Give a brief answer, please.
Evidence of meeting #6 for Veterans Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #6 for Veterans Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
National President, Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees
No, I can't, because these are stats that human resources would have. For that, you'd have to go to the department to get their hiring stats.
5:25 p.m.
National President, Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees
I don't have specific stats, because I'm not involved in the staffing processes.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
You can opine that the hiring pool is limited without having stats to indicate whether or not it's true.
5:25 p.m.
National President, Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees
Yes, there is a limited hiring pool for recruiting bilingual professionals to complex positions within Veterans Affairs in Charlottetown. My sister Doreen Weatherbie noted the same thing to you. The department is actively hiring outside to bring people into Charlottetown.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I'd like to respond to that accusation.
What I am suggesting is a change, and we need changes here. I'm not saying pull them out of your riding, Mr. Casey. I'm saying, put the jobs across the country where they're needed.
Quite honestly, your government did exactly that, pulling an entire immigration service centre out of Vermilion.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
I have to interject. That's not a point of order, but thank you.
We are now done with the second round. We have about four minutes left, by my clock. We don't really have time to start another round. If there is any desire for a 30-second question from each of you for a 30-second response, I'm willing to offer that.
I don't see any hands right now from any of you, colleagues.
Maybe one of the witnesses....
Mr. Maxwell, please.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
I would be happy to take a 30-second question, Mr. Chair.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Okay. Let's do this properly. We have about three minutes left.
We'll start with MP Desilets.
The next 30 seconds is yours, sir. Make it very brief.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Wagner, you said having a single system would make a difference.
Take a moment to dream, if you would, and tell us what that system would look like.
5:25 p.m.
Provincial Executive Director, Saskatchewan Command, Royal Canadian Legion
They just have to integrate. That's all they have to do: be integratable, be able to speak to each other. That's all we're looking for.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Thank you.
That respects the amount of time we have, so thank you.
MP Blaney, please help us out and do the same.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you.
Ms. Vaillancourt, we know that applications have slowed down because of the pandemic. I want to ask quickly whether there is any preparation happening to deal with the influx that's coming.
5:25 p.m.
National President, Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees
Only through the temporary funding that the government has provided; that's all they're doing. They're working on hiring. Nothing else, in my opinion, has really been discussed about the influx coming in.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bryan May
Thank you.
I don't see any more of my colleagues with their hands up. I don't know whether they can tell me in the room, if that's the case.
I see Mr. Maxwell desperately wants to get in one final point here.
5:25 p.m.
Executive Director, Wounded Warriors Canada
If ever there's a time to get this done and move on things, it's now. The pressures of this COVID pandemic on individuals who have lost access to a lot of things and tools they have sought to use to look after and care for themselves—the downward pressure upon families—is at a level we've never seen before, certainly through what we see here every day and in the Legion, etc.
Let's get it done now.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
I just want clarification from Mr. Maxwell. I asked about your 1,000 members, and I just want to clarify this for my own record.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Out of the 1,000 members, you said that you have 80% who are male veterans and 20% who are female veterans. Am I correct in my understanding?